Chromosome numbers for four species of Anthurium and four species of Philodendron from Bahia, Brazil, were determined. New counts 2n = 30 for A. longipes and A. affine, 2n = 32 for P. pedatum and 2n = 34 P. blanchetianum and P. pachyphyllum represent the first reports for these species. The 2n = 32 found for P. imbe and 2n = 90 for A. bellum differ from earlier reports, whereas 2n = 30 and 60 for A. pentaphyllum var. pentaphyllum confirms previous counts. A. affine had one to four B-chromosomes. We suggest secondary base numbers x = 15 for Anthurium and x = 16, 17 and 18 for Philodendron, produced by hybridizations and duplications involving the primary base numbers x = 7, 8 and 9.